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Abberton House
A family moves into a farmhouse in a quiet English village—but mysterious events a century earlier haunt their new home . . .
In 1916, the Great War is underway and Henry has been called up, leaving his wife and three children in their North Yorkshire farmhouse. They keep in touch via letters—but when he returns to Abberton House, his whole family has disappeared. There are whispers of an affair, but Henry refuses to believe it—and spends the rest of his life searching . . .
That long-ago mystery is still talked about in the village a hundred years later when Adam and Catherine move into the house with their five-year-old daughter. As they settle in, strange things begin to happen. Little Bella speaks to imaginary friends. Faces are seen in the windows, and footsteps sound from above. As time goes on, Catherine digs deeper into the history of Abberton House and learns of some chilling truths—or are they just rumours? And will Catherine and Adam have to take drastic action to rid the house of the angry spirits before any more damage is done?
In 1916, the Great War is underway and Henry has been called up, leaving his wife and three children in their North Yorkshire farmhouse. They keep in touch via letters—but when he returns to Abberton House, his whole family has disappeared. There are whispers of an affair, but Henry refuses to believe it—and spends the rest of his life searching . . .
That long-ago mystery is still talked about in the village a hundred years later when Adam and Catherine move into the house with their five-year-old daughter. As they settle in, strange things begin to happen. Little Bella speaks to imaginary friends. Faces are seen in the windows, and footsteps sound from above. As time goes on, Catherine digs deeper into the history of Abberton House and learns of some chilling truths—or are they just rumours? And will Catherine and Adam have to take drastic action to rid the house of the angry spirits before any more damage is done?
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2021
135 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Ioanna
9 books43 followersHey! I am an indie-author of romantic comedy (or chick-lit if you fancy!).
You can also find me at www.facebook.com/debbieioannaauthor
You can also find me at www.facebook.com/debbieioannaauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 19, 2024
Mysterious Haunting!
Small backstory:
The story follows two timelines.
1916 Timeline:
Dr. Henry Abberton is a doctor in World War I and his wife, Elizabeth and three children are having to get along without him the best way they can. Elizabeth ends up hiring a man (Michael) to help out around the place but one thing leads to another and they have an affair which leads to gossip in their small town. Henry and Elizabeth write letters quite often and Henry does know about Michael as Elizabeth tells him about the handyman helping out. Henry will be coming home eventually and Elizabeth will need to make a decision of what to do!
2016 Timeline:
Adam and Catherine along with their daughter Bella move into the Abberton House to get away from the city life. The house is perfect for them but their daughter has an imaginary playmate named Charlotte. Adam and Catherine think nothing of it till they start hearing a child's laughter and running feet on the landing which it turns out is not Bella! As time goes on there are faces in the window, banging noises upstairs, and other paranormal activity throughout the house which they learn is the Abberton family. What they don't know is why they are haunting the house but they finally go on a search of what is causing the haunting.
That is about all I can hand out without giving away spoilers, so if you are intrigued then go read this book!
Thoughts:
I love a good ghost/haunting story and this one delivers on all counts for me. Both timelines are written well and there is quite a bit of backstory for the timeline in 1916 which I loved as you get plenty of details of the family and what unfolds within the household. The backstory for the family in 2016 is just as detailed and I became attached to both families and their lives.
The author keeps the mystery of the haunting a secret up to the very end which I also loved because sometimes the secret is revealed too soon and then you are left wondering how the story will end, but not this book as the author just kept me in state of suspense of why the Abberton family was haunting the house.
The book is not scary but the mystery of the story is what kept me wrapped within its pages. I would consider this book more along the lines of a supernatural/paranormal suspense novel even though some readers have it shelved under horror. Horror has such a broad scope now days as there are tons of sub-genres under the actual word "horror" that as a reader there is quite a bit of flexibility with what type of books are considered horror. Ghosts and hauntings usually fall under horror but also it can fall under mystery and suspense as well. It is all about the reader and what they come away with after reading a book that has to do with hauntings and ghosts.
This story kept me in a state of total suspense as I kept wanting to know the "why and what happened" for the ghost haunting. The author delved deep into the storyline and I felt that the story kept up its pace with the haunting. Things happen slowly at first with a slight buildup of suspense and then as the story progresses the haunting activity increases. This was my first time reading this author and will be keeping an eye out for this author if she writes anymore ghost stories. Giving this book four "Spooky Suspense" stars!
Small backstory:
The story follows two timelines.
1916 Timeline:
Dr. Henry Abberton is a doctor in World War I and his wife, Elizabeth and three children are having to get along without him the best way they can. Elizabeth ends up hiring a man (Michael) to help out around the place but one thing leads to another and they have an affair which leads to gossip in their small town. Henry and Elizabeth write letters quite often and Henry does know about Michael as Elizabeth tells him about the handyman helping out. Henry will be coming home eventually and Elizabeth will need to make a decision of what to do!
2016 Timeline:
Adam and Catherine along with their daughter Bella move into the Abberton House to get away from the city life. The house is perfect for them but their daughter has an imaginary playmate named Charlotte. Adam and Catherine think nothing of it till they start hearing a child's laughter and running feet on the landing which it turns out is not Bella! As time goes on there are faces in the window, banging noises upstairs, and other paranormal activity throughout the house which they learn is the Abberton family. What they don't know is why they are haunting the house but they finally go on a search of what is causing the haunting.
That is about all I can hand out without giving away spoilers, so if you are intrigued then go read this book!
Thoughts:
I love a good ghost/haunting story and this one delivers on all counts for me. Both timelines are written well and there is quite a bit of backstory for the timeline in 1916 which I loved as you get plenty of details of the family and what unfolds within the household. The backstory for the family in 2016 is just as detailed and I became attached to both families and their lives.
The author keeps the mystery of the haunting a secret up to the very end which I also loved because sometimes the secret is revealed too soon and then you are left wondering how the story will end, but not this book as the author just kept me in state of suspense of why the Abberton family was haunting the house.
The book is not scary but the mystery of the story is what kept me wrapped within its pages. I would consider this book more along the lines of a supernatural/paranormal suspense novel even though some readers have it shelved under horror. Horror has such a broad scope now days as there are tons of sub-genres under the actual word "horror" that as a reader there is quite a bit of flexibility with what type of books are considered horror. Ghosts and hauntings usually fall under horror but also it can fall under mystery and suspense as well. It is all about the reader and what they come away with after reading a book that has to do with hauntings and ghosts.
This story kept me in a state of total suspense as I kept wanting to know the "why and what happened" for the ghost haunting. The author delved deep into the storyline and I felt that the story kept up its pace with the haunting. Things happen slowly at first with a slight buildup of suspense and then as the story progresses the haunting activity increases. This was my first time reading this author and will be keeping an eye out for this author if she writes anymore ghost stories. Giving this book four "Spooky Suspense" stars!
September 8, 2020
Abberton House gave me serious cover love. A house has an impact upon its environment and in this story’s case – the families too. An imposing shadow, a constant watcher through time. A gothic horror that is perfect for the start of spooky season – definitely one to add to your never-ending TBR pile. A story to unnerve you, because instantly you get a creeping sense of dread, red alarm going off in your head, an itch you can’t scratch but I was absolutely here for it. Once again, Panther Publishing are knocking it out of the park with their horror line and are fast becoming my go to indie press.
Starting this book by Debbie Ioanna is like being transported into a Hollywood movie. The arty narrative, the eerie atmosphere and you are sucked into the centre of it. This is your life and you’re dealing with the consequences. The razor-sharp narrative wraps itself around you and engulfs you in the action, it has no intentions of letting you go, you might fight it, but you know its fruitless.
Abberton House introduces us to a family from 1916. Be prepared for an extensive backstory, you know that they will play an important role further down the line. Its eerily sinister in a Pandora’s box type of scenario. War time separation. Parenting. A discharged, haunted solider with PTSD. Fast-forward to 2016 and begin to fall in love with another family, with similar struggles and aims and plans for the future. They decide to move away from the city and buy a farmhouse in the countryside. A place for their daughter and other potential children to grow up. A place to invest in. I held my kindle tightly, I shouted not that house! But they didn’t listen, they bought Abberton House.
Page after stunning page I went through the motions with this kind-hearted family. I loved Bella and Catherine. I wanted to warn them. I wanted to protect them. I ached to turn the next page, the frightening situation, little incidents making you think twice. I’m pretty sure I could hear my own home creak and shudder in camaraderie. The author added so many nuances to resonate with her readers. It was so easy to envision the scenario the characters are facing, Debbie takes feelings and turns it into words, flawlessly, something that I think a lot of authors struggle to get right.
The pacing was fast and the tension oozing from the pages had me turning pages at a rate of 50mph. it had everything that I just adore in a horror novel. The story often had me cold to the bone, the chilling undertones had me rooted to the spot. The details and the clues sent me on a magical mystery tour. Is there a face in the window looking back at you? What’s the footsteps you just heard in the night? When I had finished the story (too quickly I may add) I had broken out into a sweat, gasping for breath and thanking the horror gods for this absolute gem.
Abberton House epitomizes everything that is humanity and horror. Beautifully orchestrated and Ioanna has certainly brought the chills into the soul of the story. Dark, gripping and visceral.
Starting this book by Debbie Ioanna is like being transported into a Hollywood movie. The arty narrative, the eerie atmosphere and you are sucked into the centre of it. This is your life and you’re dealing with the consequences. The razor-sharp narrative wraps itself around you and engulfs you in the action, it has no intentions of letting you go, you might fight it, but you know its fruitless.
Abberton House introduces us to a family from 1916. Be prepared for an extensive backstory, you know that they will play an important role further down the line. Its eerily sinister in a Pandora’s box type of scenario. War time separation. Parenting. A discharged, haunted solider with PTSD. Fast-forward to 2016 and begin to fall in love with another family, with similar struggles and aims and plans for the future. They decide to move away from the city and buy a farmhouse in the countryside. A place for their daughter and other potential children to grow up. A place to invest in. I held my kindle tightly, I shouted not that house! But they didn’t listen, they bought Abberton House.
Page after stunning page I went through the motions with this kind-hearted family. I loved Bella and Catherine. I wanted to warn them. I wanted to protect them. I ached to turn the next page, the frightening situation, little incidents making you think twice. I’m pretty sure I could hear my own home creak and shudder in camaraderie. The author added so many nuances to resonate with her readers. It was so easy to envision the scenario the characters are facing, Debbie takes feelings and turns it into words, flawlessly, something that I think a lot of authors struggle to get right.
The pacing was fast and the tension oozing from the pages had me turning pages at a rate of 50mph. it had everything that I just adore in a horror novel. The story often had me cold to the bone, the chilling undertones had me rooted to the spot. The details and the clues sent me on a magical mystery tour. Is there a face in the window looking back at you? What’s the footsteps you just heard in the night? When I had finished the story (too quickly I may add) I had broken out into a sweat, gasping for breath and thanking the horror gods for this absolute gem.
Abberton House epitomizes everything that is humanity and horror. Beautifully orchestrated and Ioanna has certainly brought the chills into the soul of the story. Dark, gripping and visceral.
August 18, 2023
I really enjoyed this book
May 25, 2020
I'm fascinated by the supernatural and urban legends as I think both can tell us a lot about our cultural beliefs and social conventions. I've therefore watched lots of TV shows and YouTube videos which cover this subject. I've also researched Spiritualism and the history of seances and talking boards etc for my own writing. Thus, when I picked up a copy of Abberton House at the UK Indie Lit Fest in Bradford in 2019 (my stall and Debbie's were neighbours) and read the blurb I was intrigued. It took me a while to get around to reading it but, when I did, I enjoyed it.
There were many, many moments when I had literal goosebumps and I even debated finishing the book in the daytime because I was dreaming about it! I didn't read any reviews prior to reading the book, as I like to make my own mind up, but when I did afterwards I couldn't agree with the idea the story just stops. The story is wrapped up at the end (no spoilers here!) and the question of "why did Mary hate Michael?" was answered in my mind by the fact it was a HUGE no-no for a man to become 'friendly' with another man's wife in 1916, even if it was perfectly innocent. I also assumed Mary was angry because she feared Michael was trying to take her father's place as head of the household.
If you like a good ghost story without gore this is definitely for you.
There were many, many moments when I had literal goosebumps and I even debated finishing the book in the daytime because I was dreaming about it! I didn't read any reviews prior to reading the book, as I like to make my own mind up, but when I did afterwards I couldn't agree with the idea the story just stops. The story is wrapped up at the end (no spoilers here!) and the question of "why did Mary hate Michael?" was answered in my mind by the fact it was a HUGE no-no for a man to become 'friendly' with another man's wife in 1916, even if it was perfectly innocent. I also assumed Mary was angry because she feared Michael was trying to take her father's place as head of the household.
If you like a good ghost story without gore this is definitely for you.
July 17, 2022
Let's be honest haunted house stories have been done to death but "Abberton House", to my mind at least, managed to bring a new feel to this traditional genre. The story follows two timelines, which are, as you might expect, the story of the present day family living in the house & that of a family who occupied it around 100 years before. Again, that's a common format for this sort of story but the writing style took things up a notch for me. There seemed to be a subtle difference in the prose between the two timelines. Maybe it was the dialogue used in the 1916's part that enhanced the feeling of "being in" the past. Whatever it was, the contrast of "now & then" was evoked beautifully & the two parts really complemented each other.
I particularly liked the story of the previous family who live in Abberton House during the Great War. This was quite poignant at times, especially reading the letters between the husband sent off to war & his wife remaining at home. The characters, both past & present, were all engaging & convincing enough….although I don't think I'd be as blasé as Catherine often seemed to be about living there! While it's not hard to see which way things are headed, the journey there was delightfully spooky & one which I was totally absorbed in.
Now onto the ending…which as some of you know I'm notoriously picky about….well, it did seem rather an abrupt one. However, I liked it - & that's not something you hear me say often! - & it seemed fitting to end where it did, without further explanation or an unnecessary epilogue.
Overall it's a well-written ghostly tale of the eerie, creepy sort rather than one of the daren't-turn-the-lights-out variety & it had me engrossed from start to finish. I'll certainly be happy to read more from this author.
* I received a free copy from Bloodhound books & this review is my own opinion*
I particularly liked the story of the previous family who live in Abberton House during the Great War. This was quite poignant at times, especially reading the letters between the husband sent off to war & his wife remaining at home. The characters, both past & present, were all engaging & convincing enough….although I don't think I'd be as blasé as Catherine often seemed to be about living there! While it's not hard to see which way things are headed, the journey there was delightfully spooky & one which I was totally absorbed in.
Now onto the ending…which as some of you know I'm notoriously picky about….well, it did seem rather an abrupt one. However, I liked it - & that's not something you hear me say often! - & it seemed fitting to end where it did, without further explanation or an unnecessary epilogue.
Overall it's a well-written ghostly tale of the eerie, creepy sort rather than one of the daren't-turn-the-lights-out variety & it had me engrossed from start to finish. I'll certainly be happy to read more from this author.
* I received a free copy from Bloodhound books & this review is my own opinion*
September 4, 2020
Is there anything this author can’t do?! This book is the book you need to read, especially if you’re a Halloween fanatic or if you just love a bit of paranormal horror! Even though it’s very different to her usual rom-com works, this book really exceeded all my expectations.
The story was captivating from beginning to end, made me jump a mile several times (thanks Debbie) and forced me to become so attached to two groups of characters I’ll never forget. I won’t hesitate to give this book five stars –it has been the BEST experience I've had with a horror story and I'm laughing to myself with how much it's affected me! If you love horror and you love Halloween, treat yourself to this book right now because I cannot praise it enough.
You can see my full review over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2020/09...
The story was captivating from beginning to end, made me jump a mile several times (thanks Debbie) and forced me to become so attached to two groups of characters I’ll never forget. I won’t hesitate to give this book five stars –it has been the BEST experience I've had with a horror story and I'm laughing to myself with how much it's affected me! If you love horror and you love Halloween, treat yourself to this book right now because I cannot praise it enough.
You can see my full review over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2020/09...
March 11, 2024
2 stars--meh. This is not a well-written book. The language is very (very) simple and characterization is absent. However, it was a quick, breezy read, with a solid (if shallow) ghost plot.
August 12, 2018
I love a good old ghost story, something that gives you the eebie jeebies, particularly when reading it at night-time, and this didn’t disappoint.
At the beginning of the book we have a lovely, if not a bit overly detailed introduction of Abberton House and its inhabitants from both the past, 1916, and the present, 2016.
Flitting effortlessly between past & present eras, the story then starts at present day, when Catherine, Adam & Bella move into their new home, Abberton House. Unaware when they bought the house, of the sinister past, they soon start to realise something isn’t right when an elderly gentleman keeps turning up in the garden or letting himself in through the front door, the same front door that Catherine could have sworn she had locked, looking for his family, but who also just vanishes into thin air. Then young Bella has become friends with Charlotte, who Catherine thinks is just an imaginary friend, that is until she sees Charlotte for herself and then realises they have ‘friends’ living in their new home, ‘friends’ from 100 years ago, who reportedly did a moonlight flit. But if they did just up and leave without a trace, why are their spirits still inhabiting the house!
When the author transports the reader back to 1916, we meet Elizabeth, Mary, Charlotte and Toby, how they are coping with life whilst their Doctor Father, Henry, is away at war, and the tragic events that unfold when Michael, an injured soldier, becomes part of their lives.
Debbie Ioanna is an indie author, so whilst there were a few punctuation & spelling errors, and I found the style of the writing wasn’t always an easy flow. The print layout I did like, it made for a quick read, and it was a story that kept me reading to see what happened. Whilst slightly predictable about what happened back in 1916, it wasn’t quite what I thought, and was more tragic than I imagined it was going to be. Having read a few reviews of this book, a few were saying that the story “just ended”, but I disagree, for me the ending wrapped the story up as it should have, the only question I have is, why did Mary hate Michael as soon as she met him?
At the beginning of the book we have a lovely, if not a bit overly detailed introduction of Abberton House and its inhabitants from both the past, 1916, and the present, 2016.
Flitting effortlessly between past & present eras, the story then starts at present day, when Catherine, Adam & Bella move into their new home, Abberton House. Unaware when they bought the house, of the sinister past, they soon start to realise something isn’t right when an elderly gentleman keeps turning up in the garden or letting himself in through the front door, the same front door that Catherine could have sworn she had locked, looking for his family, but who also just vanishes into thin air. Then young Bella has become friends with Charlotte, who Catherine thinks is just an imaginary friend, that is until she sees Charlotte for herself and then realises they have ‘friends’ living in their new home, ‘friends’ from 100 years ago, who reportedly did a moonlight flit. But if they did just up and leave without a trace, why are their spirits still inhabiting the house!
When the author transports the reader back to 1916, we meet Elizabeth, Mary, Charlotte and Toby, how they are coping with life whilst their Doctor Father, Henry, is away at war, and the tragic events that unfold when Michael, an injured soldier, becomes part of their lives.
Debbie Ioanna is an indie author, so whilst there were a few punctuation & spelling errors, and I found the style of the writing wasn’t always an easy flow. The print layout I did like, it made for a quick read, and it was a story that kept me reading to see what happened. Whilst slightly predictable about what happened back in 1916, it wasn’t quite what I thought, and was more tragic than I imagined it was going to be. Having read a few reviews of this book, a few were saying that the story “just ended”, but I disagree, for me the ending wrapped the story up as it should have, the only question I have is, why did Mary hate Michael as soon as she met him?
April 27, 2021
Now, who does not love a ghost story! I know I do!! I love the dual timelines, I loved the stories of the characters. I thought it all worked. The thing for me…it just ended..abruptly!!! I wanted more!! But alas it wasn’t meant to be.
In such a few pages, we are drawn into Catherine’s life and Abberton House but not only Catherine. We meet Elizabeth, in the past, and her life in Abberton House. Her heartbreaking story.
The book didn’t scare the bejesus out of me, but not going to lie, a few scenes unsettled me. I think a few scenes could have been amped up more, but there was definitely the feeling of being unsettled. The sound of children’s laughter always gets me. Plus the sound of footsteps on stairs, that stop and you expect to see someone…AND THEY ARE NOT THERE!!! So yes it did give me chills and make me look over my shoulder and question the sounds in my house! I love that!!
I can’t tell you much about the plot because it would ruin it for you. I can’t tell you who or what is haunting Abberton House. I can’t tell you why, but wow that story hurts.
Elizabeth living in 1916, her husband is a respected doctor shipped off to war and we only learn about him through letters. Elizabeth is left behind to look after three children, at Abberton House, when her husband requests she helps a young man who has been sent home injured. Things start to take a turn, in ways no one saw coming.
In 2016, Catherine and her family move into their dream home, yeah you got it, at Abberton House. Straight away things happen, unsettling but harmless things. Until it doesn’t feel so harmless anymore.
Does the past meet the present? Will there be a shocking conclusion? Well, you need to read the book to find that out. All I will say it is a good old fashion ghost story. One in my opinion is over too quick but nevertheless entertaining. It has me not wanting to look up at windows in a house for the fear of what I might see.
In such a few pages, we are drawn into Catherine’s life and Abberton House but not only Catherine. We meet Elizabeth, in the past, and her life in Abberton House. Her heartbreaking story.
The book didn’t scare the bejesus out of me, but not going to lie, a few scenes unsettled me. I think a few scenes could have been amped up more, but there was definitely the feeling of being unsettled. The sound of children’s laughter always gets me. Plus the sound of footsteps on stairs, that stop and you expect to see someone…AND THEY ARE NOT THERE!!! So yes it did give me chills and make me look over my shoulder and question the sounds in my house! I love that!!
I can’t tell you much about the plot because it would ruin it for you. I can’t tell you who or what is haunting Abberton House. I can’t tell you why, but wow that story hurts.
Elizabeth living in 1916, her husband is a respected doctor shipped off to war and we only learn about him through letters. Elizabeth is left behind to look after three children, at Abberton House, when her husband requests she helps a young man who has been sent home injured. Things start to take a turn, in ways no one saw coming.
In 2016, Catherine and her family move into their dream home, yeah you got it, at Abberton House. Straight away things happen, unsettling but harmless things. Until it doesn’t feel so harmless anymore.
Does the past meet the present? Will there be a shocking conclusion? Well, you need to read the book to find that out. All I will say it is a good old fashion ghost story. One in my opinion is over too quick but nevertheless entertaining. It has me not wanting to look up at windows in a house for the fear of what I might see.
February 10, 2024
I didn't know anything about this book until I saw it on Scribd, and the creepy cover just called my name.
It was quite short and punchy about a family who moved to a farm and who soon started to hear whispers and see people who should not be there. There is also a narrative in the past when we find out about the family who used to live there and what happened to them.
Although predictable, as I knew quite early on what the ending would be, I enjoyed listening to it, especially the creepy parts involving the "guests."
It's not bad, but it is also not memorable.
It was quite short and punchy about a family who moved to a farm and who soon started to hear whispers and see people who should not be there. There is also a narrative in the past when we find out about the family who used to live there and what happened to them.
Although predictable, as I knew quite early on what the ending would be, I enjoyed listening to it, especially the creepy parts involving the "guests."
It's not bad, but it is also not memorable.
April 10, 2021
Rounded up from 3.5
I love a good ghost story, so I was eager to read Abberton House and see what spin the author gave to the classic haunted house trope.
Abberton House follows a dual timeline. First in 1916 we follow the story of Elizabeth, a young mother of three children whose doctor husband Henry has been called up to the war. The second timeline is set one hundred years later when Adam, Catherine, and their daughter, Bella, move into their new house to find something sinister lurking.
I really enjoyed the bit of mystery peppered throughout the story that really kept me hooked. I kept wondering what happened to Elizabeth and her family. Did she run off like everyone said or did something more disturbing happen?
I would definitely recommend this story to people who enjoy a bit of a spooky horror story without too much blood or violence. It's also quite a short book, but it still had a gentle pace and didn't seem too rushed.
I wished the author would have amped up the creep factor a little more, as at times the ghosts felt like rather annoying houseguests rather than anything otherworldly. And there were a few aspects of the story that could have been explored further, certain minor characters that I would have liked to have seen more of.
Abberton House is a quick, spooky read with a hint of mystery that kept me entertained and intrigued throughout.
I love a good ghost story, so I was eager to read Abberton House and see what spin the author gave to the classic haunted house trope.
Abberton House follows a dual timeline. First in 1916 we follow the story of Elizabeth, a young mother of three children whose doctor husband Henry has been called up to the war. The second timeline is set one hundred years later when Adam, Catherine, and their daughter, Bella, move into their new house to find something sinister lurking.
I really enjoyed the bit of mystery peppered throughout the story that really kept me hooked. I kept wondering what happened to Elizabeth and her family. Did she run off like everyone said or did something more disturbing happen?
I would definitely recommend this story to people who enjoy a bit of a spooky horror story without too much blood or violence. It's also quite a short book, but it still had a gentle pace and didn't seem too rushed.
I wished the author would have amped up the creep factor a little more, as at times the ghosts felt like rather annoying houseguests rather than anything otherworldly. And there were a few aspects of the story that could have been explored further, certain minor characters that I would have liked to have seen more of.
Abberton House is a quick, spooky read with a hint of mystery that kept me entertained and intrigued throughout.
April 17, 2021
Hi and welcome to my review of Abberton House! Huge thanks to Emma Welton @ damppebbles for the invite and to Panther Publishing for the eARC.
It’s been a while since my last Panther tour and boy is it good to be back! I was literally just checking out Abberton House on Goodreads when Emma’s mail popped into my mailbox so of course I jumped at the chance and I’m very happy I did, Abberton House is an entertaining and quick read that hits the ground running, pulling me with it.
Abberton House, North Yorkshire. Built in the mid-nineteenth century and designed to house a large family, it has a look of grandeur about it. In 1916, Abberton House houses a family of five until the man of the house is called to war. In 2016, Adam and Catherine move in with their little girl.
The haunted house storyline in 2016 alternates with the, well let’s call it the origin story in 1916, and I enjoyed both, the former for its creepiness, the latter because I was anxious to find out what exactly had happened in 1916 to bring about the events in 2016.
The first part of Abberton House was the perfect haunted house story for me, as it played on my fears. Bar clowns and spiders, nothing is scarier to me in these types of stories than hearing noises you can’t place or seeing things from the corner of your eye that disappear when you look right at them. Much more terrifying than the monster screaming in your face, is the ghost hiding in the shadows, the old man staring in your window one moment, gone the next, your child’s imaginary friend, the footsteps on the landing when your whole family is downstairs.
The second part of Abberton House morphed into something a little different, it got less scary for me but it was just as good, only in another way. I’m talking in riddles but I’m doing so purposefully as I don’t want to give too much away.
I’m having a hard time categorising Abberton House, which sucks for my spreadsheet but is otherwise a very good thing, as I generally love books that refuse to be crammed into one little genre box. The 1916 storyline reads as a mystery / drama, the 2016 storyline is more thriller laced with horror. The two parts never clash though, they form a coherent whole that was consistently intriguing and fun to read, leading up to a finale that I found very satisfying.
Overall, I had a great time with Abberton House and if you’re looking for a haunted house story that includes mystery and drama and even some sentiment that made me well up for a minute there, be sure to check out Abberton House.
It’s been a while since my last Panther tour and boy is it good to be back! I was literally just checking out Abberton House on Goodreads when Emma’s mail popped into my mailbox so of course I jumped at the chance and I’m very happy I did, Abberton House is an entertaining and quick read that hits the ground running, pulling me with it.
Abberton House, North Yorkshire. Built in the mid-nineteenth century and designed to house a large family, it has a look of grandeur about it. In 1916, Abberton House houses a family of five until the man of the house is called to war. In 2016, Adam and Catherine move in with their little girl.
The haunted house storyline in 2016 alternates with the, well let’s call it the origin story in 1916, and I enjoyed both, the former for its creepiness, the latter because I was anxious to find out what exactly had happened in 1916 to bring about the events in 2016.
The first part of Abberton House was the perfect haunted house story for me, as it played on my fears. Bar clowns and spiders, nothing is scarier to me in these types of stories than hearing noises you can’t place or seeing things from the corner of your eye that disappear when you look right at them. Much more terrifying than the monster screaming in your face, is the ghost hiding in the shadows, the old man staring in your window one moment, gone the next, your child’s imaginary friend, the footsteps on the landing when your whole family is downstairs.
The second part of Abberton House morphed into something a little different, it got less scary for me but it was just as good, only in another way. I’m talking in riddles but I’m doing so purposefully as I don’t want to give too much away.
I’m having a hard time categorising Abberton House, which sucks for my spreadsheet but is otherwise a very good thing, as I generally love books that refuse to be crammed into one little genre box. The 1916 storyline reads as a mystery / drama, the 2016 storyline is more thriller laced with horror. The two parts never clash though, they form a coherent whole that was consistently intriguing and fun to read, leading up to a finale that I found very satisfying.
Overall, I had a great time with Abberton House and if you’re looking for a haunted house story that includes mystery and drama and even some sentiment that made me well up for a minute there, be sure to check out Abberton House.
June 29, 2017
Book 44 of my Reading Challenge
A must read for fans of the classic ghost story with mild horror. I loved how the story flowed easily between the two era's with the original family in 1916, Elizabeth left at home with three children whilst Henry an eminent doctor is away at war.
Then our modern family who bagged themselves a lovely big house at a discount price not knowing the rumours surrounding it. I could very easily relate to Catherine, Adam and little Bella. I would have looked into the strange happenings in Abberton House and would have tried to help the unquiet spirits to find peace.
This book for me was a real page turner, I was at times unable to put the it down even though I did find it a little predictable. I would have loved to know more about the 1916 eldest child Mary, why was she so angry with the soldier who had been sent home from the war having been treated by her father. Henry sent the man to seek possible work and assistance with the family at Abberton House.
If you love ghost stories I would say definitely give this book a try.
A must read for fans of the classic ghost story with mild horror. I loved how the story flowed easily between the two era's with the original family in 1916, Elizabeth left at home with three children whilst Henry an eminent doctor is away at war.
Then our modern family who bagged themselves a lovely big house at a discount price not knowing the rumours surrounding it. I could very easily relate to Catherine, Adam and little Bella. I would have looked into the strange happenings in Abberton House and would have tried to help the unquiet spirits to find peace.
This book for me was a real page turner, I was at times unable to put the it down even though I did find it a little predictable. I would have loved to know more about the 1916 eldest child Mary, why was she so angry with the soldier who had been sent home from the war having been treated by her father. Henry sent the man to seek possible work and assistance with the family at Abberton House.
If you love ghost stories I would say definitely give this book a try.
October 6, 2022
Nice easy read. Ghost story and back story. Good holiday read.
April 8, 2023
Loved this book a proper haunted house story told in a dual timeline of 1916 and 2016 couldn't put it down
September 16, 2020
At it’s heart, Abberton house is a ghost story. A young family move in to a gorgeous old house in the countryside and are beset upon by things that go bump in the night, as well as in the daytime. But it is so much more than this too. Abberton House is really the tale of two families. One in 2016, a couple with a young daughter who move in to Abberton House the escape the hustle and bustle of city life, and one in 1916. A family separate by war and all the troubles and hardship that go with it.
The lives of the two families are written side by side, with a few chapters setting up events in 2016 and then taking us back through time to 1916. The book flicks back and forth like this throughout, keeping everything fresh and never giving the reader chance to burn out. It keeps us guessing and wanting more.
The transitions are seamless and the writing of life 100 years apart is very well done indeed. Even down to the style of writing one might expect to see in the hand written correspondence between husband and wife during the war. It left me feeling that what I had read could easily have been found lying underneath a glass panel with some medals, handed down through generations until it is finally donated to a museum. It really did help to get me immersed.
Not only is the writing style and tone brilliant but the horror aspect is done perfectly too. To begin with, as you might imagine, hints are subtle that something spooky is going on, but these hints are placed so effortlessly in the scene that it makes these strange happenings all the more freaky. The descriptions and dialogue between characters as things start to turn a little dark between our modern family really put the creeps in me, and that lasted all throughout the book. Don’t be reading this in the dark or in a big old house yourself, theres no telling where your imagination might sweep you off to! All those strange creeks and noises…
I want to mention also that Abberton House is set in the Yorkshire countryside, somewhere that I know very well. As an adopted Yorkshireman myself, it was really refreshing to hear place names like Keighly and Skipton and I thought the choice to include some broad spoken Yorkshire accents in the dialogue was a very good one. It genuinely made me smile reading it out in my head, though I suspect some readers may ask themselves ‘what on earth did they just say?’ That’s not a negative point by any means though.
All in all, Abberton house is a fantastic read. Great writing, creepy atmosphere, brilliant use of historical setting and some really refreshing local imagery, something I don’t experience very often if at all in fiction.
I started reading this book on a somewhat chilly and slightly misty September morning. Autumn had just started to creep in to the air and this book really set the mood for those cold and cozy, yet scary autumn reads. Highly recommended and a perfect way to start off the spooky season.
Finally, thank you once again to the great folks at Panther for the opportunity to review this book. If you haven’t checked then out yet, I strongly suggest you do.
The lives of the two families are written side by side, with a few chapters setting up events in 2016 and then taking us back through time to 1916. The book flicks back and forth like this throughout, keeping everything fresh and never giving the reader chance to burn out. It keeps us guessing and wanting more.
The transitions are seamless and the writing of life 100 years apart is very well done indeed. Even down to the style of writing one might expect to see in the hand written correspondence between husband and wife during the war. It left me feeling that what I had read could easily have been found lying underneath a glass panel with some medals, handed down through generations until it is finally donated to a museum. It really did help to get me immersed.
Not only is the writing style and tone brilliant but the horror aspect is done perfectly too. To begin with, as you might imagine, hints are subtle that something spooky is going on, but these hints are placed so effortlessly in the scene that it makes these strange happenings all the more freaky. The descriptions and dialogue between characters as things start to turn a little dark between our modern family really put the creeps in me, and that lasted all throughout the book. Don’t be reading this in the dark or in a big old house yourself, theres no telling where your imagination might sweep you off to! All those strange creeks and noises…
I want to mention also that Abberton House is set in the Yorkshire countryside, somewhere that I know very well. As an adopted Yorkshireman myself, it was really refreshing to hear place names like Keighly and Skipton and I thought the choice to include some broad spoken Yorkshire accents in the dialogue was a very good one. It genuinely made me smile reading it out in my head, though I suspect some readers may ask themselves ‘what on earth did they just say?’ That’s not a negative point by any means though.
All in all, Abberton house is a fantastic read. Great writing, creepy atmosphere, brilliant use of historical setting and some really refreshing local imagery, something I don’t experience very often if at all in fiction.
I started reading this book on a somewhat chilly and slightly misty September morning. Autumn had just started to creep in to the air and this book really set the mood for those cold and cozy, yet scary autumn reads. Highly recommended and a perfect way to start off the spooky season.
Finally, thank you once again to the great folks at Panther for the opportunity to review this book. If you haven’t checked then out yet, I strongly suggest you do.
April 9, 2021
I adore Debbie’s romance novels so I was intrigued to find out how her talents translated into a paranormal novel. And boy does it!
If you’re looking for a gory, in your face and terrifying ghost story then this isn’t it. Debbie cleverly and gently takes a more subtle approach in telling a more traditional ghost story – the sort people tell around campfires and pass down for generations. It works beautifully and still maintains a chilling edge to it without overtly being disturbing (too much) or dark.
Abberton House is told alternately across two timelines a hundred years apart and moves flawlessly between 1916 and 2016. It manages to change eras just at an intense part of the story so I flew through each section trying to return to the previous one.
In 2016, Catherine, Adam and their small daughter Bella have just bought Abberton House as their forever family home. Strange occurrences take place and soon it’s clear that something other than the family live there. Could it be linked to the sudden disappearance of the family (Elizabeth and her children) who lived there in 1916?
Abberton House sounds beautiful and a perfect place to live but the description also maintains a certain atmosphere that puts the reader on edge. Like a mildly malevolent feel that makes the house unsettling and worthy of goosebumps.
Catherine and Adam were a lovely couple. I loved how they worked together and they were certainly calmer and more accepting of the situation that I would have been. Bella is a delightful child too.
It’s through Elizabeth’s 1916 story where many themes are explored. Doctor Husband Henry goes away to work in the war, leaving Elizabeth and their 3 children. Henry sends an injured veteran in her direction and so begins a tale of love and difficult choices. I love how the themes of loneliness, judgement and PTSD were explored in this novel very delicately and without judgement. I couldn’t help but feel for all the characters in the 1916 story – all deeply affected by the war in some way.
This novel is spooky enough to give you some chills but without that Hollywood version of ghosts. I love how it kept to a more traditional style of ghost story and I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended as a light, paranormal read with a thought provoking historical thread running through.
If you’re looking for a gory, in your face and terrifying ghost story then this isn’t it. Debbie cleverly and gently takes a more subtle approach in telling a more traditional ghost story – the sort people tell around campfires and pass down for generations. It works beautifully and still maintains a chilling edge to it without overtly being disturbing (too much) or dark.
Abberton House is told alternately across two timelines a hundred years apart and moves flawlessly between 1916 and 2016. It manages to change eras just at an intense part of the story so I flew through each section trying to return to the previous one.
In 2016, Catherine, Adam and their small daughter Bella have just bought Abberton House as their forever family home. Strange occurrences take place and soon it’s clear that something other than the family live there. Could it be linked to the sudden disappearance of the family (Elizabeth and her children) who lived there in 1916?
Abberton House sounds beautiful and a perfect place to live but the description also maintains a certain atmosphere that puts the reader on edge. Like a mildly malevolent feel that makes the house unsettling and worthy of goosebumps.
Catherine and Adam were a lovely couple. I loved how they worked together and they were certainly calmer and more accepting of the situation that I would have been. Bella is a delightful child too.
It’s through Elizabeth’s 1916 story where many themes are explored. Doctor Husband Henry goes away to work in the war, leaving Elizabeth and their 3 children. Henry sends an injured veteran in her direction and so begins a tale of love and difficult choices. I love how the themes of loneliness, judgement and PTSD were explored in this novel very delicately and without judgement. I couldn’t help but feel for all the characters in the 1916 story – all deeply affected by the war in some way.
This novel is spooky enough to give you some chills but without that Hollywood version of ghosts. I love how it kept to a more traditional style of ghost story and I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended as a light, paranormal read with a thought provoking historical thread running through.
September 16, 2024
Setting: North Yorkshire, England; 1914-16 and 2015-16.
In 1914, Elizabeth and her doctor husband Henry take up residence in her former family home of Abberton House in a small village near Skipton. When World War One breaks out, her husband joins up to provide medical assistance to the troops fighting on the Western Front. Meanwhile, Elizabeth raises their three children, Mary, Charlotte and Toby, and makes ends meet by repairing clothes for the local villagers. Whilst at the Front, Henry has to operate on soldier Michael, who is from the village - he loses a leg so is discharged and Henry asks Elizabeth to help Michael when he returns home as he only has his invalid father for support. But does her support for Michael turn into something else? When Henry returns on leave in 1916, he finds his family and Michael have disappeared amid rumours of an affair. But Henry never believes this and becomes a recluse....
In 2016, self-employed cake-maker, Catherine, and her fireman husband, Adam, move into Abberton House with their five-year-old daughter Bella. They suffer from mysterious noises and sightings virtually as soon as they move into the house and Bella seems to have an imaginary friend called Charlotte. Ghostly apparitions of a child and a woman appear in the house and an old man keeps appearing outside, looking for his family. As Catherine and Adam become aware of the legend surrounding the house, they become increasingly concerned by the manifestations that are now upsetting them and their daughter....
This was a quite enthralling ghostly read, which jumps back and forth in time from 1916 to 2016 and, whilst a quite simple and almost predictable plot, still had enough to keep me reading, wanting to know the ultimate outcome. The ending was perhaps a bit sudden, an epilogue would have been beneficial, but this was still a good read - 8/10.
In 1914, Elizabeth and her doctor husband Henry take up residence in her former family home of Abberton House in a small village near Skipton. When World War One breaks out, her husband joins up to provide medical assistance to the troops fighting on the Western Front. Meanwhile, Elizabeth raises their three children, Mary, Charlotte and Toby, and makes ends meet by repairing clothes for the local villagers. Whilst at the Front, Henry has to operate on soldier Michael, who is from the village - he loses a leg so is discharged and Henry asks Elizabeth to help Michael when he returns home as he only has his invalid father for support. But does her support for Michael turn into something else? When Henry returns on leave in 1916, he finds his family and Michael have disappeared amid rumours of an affair. But Henry never believes this and becomes a recluse....
In 2016, self-employed cake-maker, Catherine, and her fireman husband, Adam, move into Abberton House with their five-year-old daughter Bella. They suffer from mysterious noises and sightings virtually as soon as they move into the house and Bella seems to have an imaginary friend called Charlotte. Ghostly apparitions of a child and a woman appear in the house and an old man keeps appearing outside, looking for his family. As Catherine and Adam become aware of the legend surrounding the house, they become increasingly concerned by the manifestations that are now upsetting them and their daughter....
This was a quite enthralling ghostly read, which jumps back and forth in time from 1916 to 2016 and, whilst a quite simple and almost predictable plot, still had enough to keep me reading, wanting to know the ultimate outcome. The ending was perhaps a bit sudden, an epilogue would have been beneficial, but this was still a good read - 8/10.
September 13, 2020
I love ghost stories. I grew up close to a battle field and have always loved hearing the ghost stories that followed the town. This ghost story really pulls you in and makes you really feel the presence of the ghosts.
I will say that this story is not one to read at night, especially if you are alone. The ghosts feel so real in the book that you start to feel them outside of the book.
The families themselves are so genuine. The family in 2016 are so close and are so understanding. I fell in love with how they treated each other, and how much the parents were willing to give things up for the daughter to feel safe in the house. The family in 1916 had a completely dynamic. They were trying to pull together and make-do while the husband was defending their country. They were still very close until a man got between the family.
There is mystery that is growing throughout the whole story and it really pulls in the reader. The plot lines intertwine with each other so beautifully. We bounce back and forth between the two time periods so flawlessly. Once we see something pop up in the 2016 storyline we get the backstory in the next section in the 1916 storyline. It was so well done that we are seeing both sides of the story one right after the other. This lets the reader piece all the information together while it is unfolding before them.
I did receive this book for free but it did not affect my opinions for this review!
I will say that this story is not one to read at night, especially if you are alone. The ghosts feel so real in the book that you start to feel them outside of the book.
The families themselves are so genuine. The family in 2016 are so close and are so understanding. I fell in love with how they treated each other, and how much the parents were willing to give things up for the daughter to feel safe in the house. The family in 1916 had a completely dynamic. They were trying to pull together and make-do while the husband was defending their country. They were still very close until a man got between the family.
There is mystery that is growing throughout the whole story and it really pulls in the reader. The plot lines intertwine with each other so beautifully. We bounce back and forth between the two time periods so flawlessly. Once we see something pop up in the 2016 storyline we get the backstory in the next section in the 1916 storyline. It was so well done that we are seeing both sides of the story one right after the other. This lets the reader piece all the information together while it is unfolding before them.
I did receive this book for free but it did not affect my opinions for this review!
July 23, 2021
WOW! This was a spooky read! Loved it!
I was in for some HAUNTINGS, for something scary, and I thought this one would do, and oh yes it did.
This book takes place over two timelines. Two families. The ones in the past who lived there and were happy. The ones in the now who are happy but haunted by the family from the past. I really loved the two timelines. We get answers in the one, well, OK, slowly you get answers though of course I did have some suspicions on what was going on, come on it wasn’t that hard to guess, haha. And in the other we see what happens to a new family who lives in the house and find out that they are not alone. That their daughter’s playmate… may not be that imaginary.
I had so much fun reading this one, the things in the past were definitely a moment of quiet from the spookiness of the now parts. HOWEVER, the past parts also really pissed me off. I mean, I loved the setting. I loved that it took place during WWI in a small town. But their is one thing I hate in books at that is cheating. Girl, I get it, you are thirsty. But please, don’t cheat on your loving and caring husband who is in the midst of the trenches and sees the most horrible things. I mean having sex? No. Then again, Michael should have shoved off. Yes, there are two to blame, but Michael was so pushy and I felt that one could also not say no to Michael. He just had something about him that troubled me, and I wondered what would happen if she said no (which we find out later on…). But yeah, the cheating definitely had me pissed.
The now parts were just fantastic as they also feature a husband who BELIEVES and who cares for his wife when he finds out that things are really going bonkers in his house. Yes, he is a slight unbeliever at first, but he quickly turns. Haha. Seeing a dead woman in your bedroom or hearing dead girls run around at night help with that. Because yep, that happens. A running kid can be heard. A mother is seen. It was all very scary as at times it seemed very calm and BOOM ghosts.
I wasn’t too happy with the ghosts after a while. I could understand why they would get angry. I mean, it’s been 100 years. I would be pissed as well. But if you cannot communicate you cannot expect people to just magically know what you want. I mean, just no.
The ending however felt incomplete. I would have loved at least an epilogue. Maybe something more?
There were also a few times that had me scratching my head, like how casual they seemed to be near the end despite the ghosts continuing anger. I would have definitely pushed a bit harder…
All in all, a very spooky and good read and I had fun reading it. I am very happy with this book. Hopefully the author writes more books like this.
I was in for some HAUNTINGS, for something scary, and I thought this one would do, and oh yes it did.
This book takes place over two timelines. Two families. The ones in the past who lived there and were happy. The ones in the now who are happy but haunted by the family from the past. I really loved the two timelines. We get answers in the one, well, OK, slowly you get answers though of course I did have some suspicions on what was going on, come on it wasn’t that hard to guess, haha. And in the other we see what happens to a new family who lives in the house and find out that they are not alone. That their daughter’s playmate… may not be that imaginary.
I had so much fun reading this one, the things in the past were definitely a moment of quiet from the spookiness of the now parts. HOWEVER, the past parts also really pissed me off. I mean, I loved the setting. I loved that it took place during WWI in a small town. But their is one thing I hate in books at that is cheating. Girl, I get it, you are thirsty. But please, don’t cheat on your loving and caring husband who is in the midst of the trenches and sees the most horrible things. I mean having sex? No. Then again, Michael should have shoved off. Yes, there are two to blame, but Michael was so pushy and I felt that one could also not say no to Michael. He just had something about him that troubled me, and I wondered what would happen if she said no (which we find out later on…). But yeah, the cheating definitely had me pissed.
The now parts were just fantastic as they also feature a husband who BELIEVES and who cares for his wife when he finds out that things are really going bonkers in his house. Yes, he is a slight unbeliever at first, but he quickly turns. Haha. Seeing a dead woman in your bedroom or hearing dead girls run around at night help with that. Because yep, that happens. A running kid can be heard. A mother is seen. It was all very scary as at times it seemed very calm and BOOM ghosts.
I wasn’t too happy with the ghosts after a while. I could understand why they would get angry. I mean, it’s been 100 years. I would be pissed as well. But if you cannot communicate you cannot expect people to just magically know what you want. I mean, just no.
The ending however felt incomplete. I would have loved at least an epilogue. Maybe something more?
There were also a few times that had me scratching my head, like how casual they seemed to be near the end despite the ghosts continuing anger. I would have definitely pushed a bit harder…
All in all, a very spooky and good read and I had fun reading it. I am very happy with this book. Hopefully the author writes more books like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2021
I love kicking off blog tours, especially when the book is as good as this one! Abberton House is a fabulous and unashamed ghost story, it put me in mind of Haunted and also The Patience of a Dead Man both of which focus around a house where all is not as it seems... I'll be getting a reputation for being a fan of ghost stories (rather than being a rufty tufty crime thriller fan) at this rate!
Fair play to Adam and Catherine who seem to take the extra inhabitants of Abberton House in their stride, I am not sure I would have been quite so chill about it all! Even their daughter seems largely happy to share her bedroom with the playfully naughty Charlotte.
The story flits between the present day and also takes you back to the war where the man of the house, a Doctor, is sent off to war and lives for the letters that he receives from his doting wife. That is until the letters stop...
This fabulously creepy tale will have you on the edge of your seat at times and won't be one that you'll want to read when you are alone (or are you?) in the house late at night!
There is a definite bittersweetness about this Abberton House, not fully a ghost story, not fully a love story but a thoroughly engaging read all the same.
Fair play to Adam and Catherine who seem to take the extra inhabitants of Abberton House in their stride, I am not sure I would have been quite so chill about it all! Even their daughter seems largely happy to share her bedroom with the playfully naughty Charlotte.
The story flits between the present day and also takes you back to the war where the man of the house, a Doctor, is sent off to war and lives for the letters that he receives from his doting wife. That is until the letters stop...
This fabulously creepy tale will have you on the edge of your seat at times and won't be one that you'll want to read when you are alone (or are you?) in the house late at night!
There is a definite bittersweetness about this Abberton House, not fully a ghost story, not fully a love story but a thoroughly engaging read all the same.
April 21, 2021
Abberton House by Debbie Ioanna is a haunted house story, one that is reminiscent of a traditional tale that is capable of giving you goosebumps from the eerie and intriguing atmosphere. I am someone who enjoys any type of genre and if you are a reader who adores reading something gory and brutal, this is not that.
This story is told over two timelines one hundred years apart. A family move into Abberton House. Their dream home in Yorkshire, as they settle in they realise they aren't alone in the house. Things start happening that they can't explain and they get stronger and start happening more and soon the family, Catherine, Adam and their daughter Bella realise they have to try to solve a one hundred year old mystery if they want to live in peace.
Debbie Ioanna has created a seamless story that timeslips back to 1916 and the original family that lived in Abberton House, giving us the story of Elizabeth and her children while Henry is away fighting on the Frontline in World War One. The story switches back and forth showing us how the family in the present day are progressing with their mystery solving, as they find out more information the ghostly happening seem to go stronger and angrier.
I always enjoy a time slip novel and when you pair it with the supernatural I love it even more. The 1916 timeslip shows how communities back then were so close, and how Elizabeth struggled in that time. The fact that Bella wasn't really scared with the supernatural stuff happening shows that the story isn't as scary as it could be but I still felt chilled as I read it. A fabulous book with elements of a love story and a supernatural tale woven together to create a book that has you on the edge of your seat with the ghostly happenings in Abberton House.
Thanks to Damp Pebbles Blog Tours and @pantherpubs for the copy of the book and my place on the tour today.
This story is told over two timelines one hundred years apart. A family move into Abberton House. Their dream home in Yorkshire, as they settle in they realise they aren't alone in the house. Things start happening that they can't explain and they get stronger and start happening more and soon the family, Catherine, Adam and their daughter Bella realise they have to try to solve a one hundred year old mystery if they want to live in peace.
Debbie Ioanna has created a seamless story that timeslips back to 1916 and the original family that lived in Abberton House, giving us the story of Elizabeth and her children while Henry is away fighting on the Frontline in World War One. The story switches back and forth showing us how the family in the present day are progressing with their mystery solving, as they find out more information the ghostly happening seem to go stronger and angrier.
I always enjoy a time slip novel and when you pair it with the supernatural I love it even more. The 1916 timeslip shows how communities back then were so close, and how Elizabeth struggled in that time. The fact that Bella wasn't really scared with the supernatural stuff happening shows that the story isn't as scary as it could be but I still felt chilled as I read it. A fabulous book with elements of a love story and a supernatural tale woven together to create a book that has you on the edge of your seat with the ghostly happenings in Abberton House.
Thanks to Damp Pebbles Blog Tours and @pantherpubs for the copy of the book and my place on the tour today.
April 19, 2021
Ghostly footsteps, children laughing and playing on the stairs, an old man who disappears – sounds like my kind of story. But maybe not my kind of house – I prefer peace and quiet when I am trying to sleep.
When it comes to ghost stories, I don’t scare easily – I am far more afraid of murderers and serial killers than I am of ghosts. Do I believe in them? Well I believe that when something traumatic or tragic happens, it leaves a time stamp on the place or property where it happened, but spirits walking around because they can’t rest in peace. Of that I am not sure. However, the supernatural is probably my favourite genre.
Abberton House is told in two parallel time frames. In 1916, handsome doctor Henry is sent away to the WWI front, though luckily he is not in the direct line of fire. At home his wife Elizabeth, daughters Mary and Charlotte and toddler Toby, wait patiently for his return. They write every day and receive Henry’s letters in return. In one of his letters, Henry tells Elizabeth about a young man named Michael, who has lost a leg in battle, needs rehabilitation and maybe she could help. Bad idea. Very very bad.
In 2016, Adam, Catherine and five year old Bella move into their ‘dream’ house – Abberton House. Catherine plans to expand her cake making business, Adam can still get to work easily – he’s a fireman – and Bella loves her new school and new best friend Janey.
There’s a lot of work to do on their new home, especially on the garden, but so far so good. Then an old man is found wandering in the garden and suddenly disappears into thin air. Bella has an ‘imaginary’ friend called Charlotte and who is the woman who stands in the bedroom window, her hand on the glass while she stares across the garden? The happenings get spookier and spookier and to call them things that go bump in the night would be a understatement.
Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours
When it comes to ghost stories, I don’t scare easily – I am far more afraid of murderers and serial killers than I am of ghosts. Do I believe in them? Well I believe that when something traumatic or tragic happens, it leaves a time stamp on the place or property where it happened, but spirits walking around because they can’t rest in peace. Of that I am not sure. However, the supernatural is probably my favourite genre.
Abberton House is told in two parallel time frames. In 1916, handsome doctor Henry is sent away to the WWI front, though luckily he is not in the direct line of fire. At home his wife Elizabeth, daughters Mary and Charlotte and toddler Toby, wait patiently for his return. They write every day and receive Henry’s letters in return. In one of his letters, Henry tells Elizabeth about a young man named Michael, who has lost a leg in battle, needs rehabilitation and maybe she could help. Bad idea. Very very bad.
In 2016, Adam, Catherine and five year old Bella move into their ‘dream’ house – Abberton House. Catherine plans to expand her cake making business, Adam can still get to work easily – he’s a fireman – and Bella loves her new school and new best friend Janey.
There’s a lot of work to do on their new home, especially on the garden, but so far so good. Then an old man is found wandering in the garden and suddenly disappears into thin air. Bella has an ‘imaginary’ friend called Charlotte and who is the woman who stands in the bedroom window, her hand on the glass while she stares across the garden? The happenings get spookier and spookier and to call them things that go bump in the night would be a understatement.
Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours
March 27, 2024
I seem to have an unpopular opinion regarding this one, but I just didn't feel any "horror" here, at all. Yes, there were ghosts, but the current timeline seemed fine with that, and continued to detail every part of their daily routines.
The second timeline (where it all began), was ridiculously easy to figure out, even though a few chapters of information were given at a time. I think I "solved it" at 25%. I didn't connect to any characters--while the woman in the first timeline had "potential", it was soon lost to disbelief. In the second, all I thought of was how little I cared about what they were having for breakfast--while they remained unperturbed at the sight of various ghosts.
Just not for me.
The second timeline (where it all began), was ridiculously easy to figure out, even though a few chapters of information were given at a time. I think I "solved it" at 25%. I didn't connect to any characters--while the woman in the first timeline had "potential", it was soon lost to disbelief. In the second, all I thought of was how little I cared about what they were having for breakfast--while they remained unperturbed at the sight of various ghosts.
Just not for me.
August 22, 2022
This is the first book I've binge-read in a really long time; I must have read this in two days straight. The choice to show several chapters in 2016, with a switch to several at a time in 1916 works brilliantly to build enough suspense around the mystery of the ghost family haunting Abberton House. It's really well-written and page-turning, with genuinely creepy paranormal encounters. I found this on the bestseller list for horror, and hadn't read anything else by this author before, but I'm hoping for more books from her like this. Definitely recommend.
April 6, 2022
Thank you to Emma Welton from Damppebbles Book Tours for allowing me to be part of Debbie Ionna’s tour.
I found Abberton House to be a well-written ghost story. it was a fast-paced read which kept me wanting more. Not read this author before, but I will be keeping my eye out for more books by her.
I found Abberton House to be a well-written ghost story. it was a fast-paced read which kept me wanting more. Not read this author before, but I will be keeping my eye out for more books by her.
August 12, 2022
I received this book for free from Bloodhound Books.
This was a very well written ghost story that gave me chills.
Makes me glad I work third shift because I don't know if I can sleep at night after this one!
I will definitely read more by this author.
This was a very well written ghost story that gave me chills.
Makes me glad I work third shift because I don't know if I can sleep at night after this one!
I will definitely read more by this author.
February 25, 2023
If you love the work if Shirely Jackson, James Herbert and even Poe, you'll love Abberton House. Debbie Ioanna crafts the perfect ghost story. It's spine chilling, eerie and just plain terrifying. Every bone in your body will want to put this down, but you'll find that impossible; frozen with fright yet your still turning the pages.
July 13, 2022
I knew from the moment I read the blurb I was going to enjoy this. I was soooooo not disappointed.
From opening this book and reading the first page, I didn’t put it down until......The End.
It was gripping from the start, and it kept that momentum up right up until the end.
I love a good “haunted house” story, and being spiritually inclined, this has everything I could want. If this were a movie, it would go straight in above two of my favourites, The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist.
The storyline moves perfectly between the 1916 and 2016, and the two families living a century apart in the same house.
Can Catherine, Adam and little Bella, help bring together devoted Henry, who searches constantly for his beloved wife Elizabeth and their three children.
This is my first book from this author and I am looking forward to reading more.
From opening this book and reading the first page, I didn’t put it down until......The End.
It was gripping from the start, and it kept that momentum up right up until the end.
I love a good “haunted house” story, and being spiritually inclined, this has everything I could want. If this were a movie, it would go straight in above two of my favourites, The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist.
The storyline moves perfectly between the 1916 and 2016, and the two families living a century apart in the same house.
Can Catherine, Adam and little Bella, help bring together devoted Henry, who searches constantly for his beloved wife Elizabeth and their three children.
This is my first book from this author and I am looking forward to reading more.
July 13, 2022
Read this in one evening. I’m not always a fan of books that go in sections between the past and present but this was really necessary and mindful of the tale. Each part was relevant to build the story and give understanding to the plot.
It’s not easy in the written word for a story to build and keep attention the way this did.
Could picture the house with its overgrown garden and the family bringing it back to life and making it a home. Then why the past came back and asked for help.
Loved that the family kept faith in their home and wanted to find peace and closure did they find it for all residents both past and present - Well you will have to read this very well written and enjoyable book to find out.
It’s not easy in the written word for a story to build and keep attention the way this did.
Could picture the house with its overgrown garden and the family bringing it back to life and making it a home. Then why the past came back and asked for help.
Loved that the family kept faith in their home and wanted to find peace and closure did they find it for all residents both past and present - Well you will have to read this very well written and enjoyable book to find out.
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